Oooh, I ordered some yarn from knitpicks and I got it a few days ago---Soooooo loving it!  Isn't how funny how daffy we can go opening a box and snuggling with "string"?  LOL  At least my kids thought it was funny, anyway. 

I was very excited and cast on for the Irish Hiking Scarf with some Swish.  It's coming along well.  I thought I'd share it, because it's a secret X-mas present and I can't really tell anyone else.  You know how blabby kiddos can be.   I adore the wool and love that it's machine washable, and can't imagine that I've lived knitted so far without it!  Very soft and cuddly.

I have to share b/c I'd used some pretty high end yarns for my first few projects (which I adored, but they were way too expensive).  I've been looking but I don't love acrylic (or what I've found so far).  Finally, I settled on some Berroco Ultra Alpaca from the LYS, because it was so much cheaper, but it never really felt super great to me.  It was soft, but a little scratchy.  I convinced myself decided that that was just part of wool, if you don't want to spend $50-$125 on a sweater for the higher end stuff.     What was I thinking?  Anyhow, that's what I'd been using a bit, and now that I've found the Swish, I am so much happier (and relieved), b/c it's even less than the Berroco (about $7 for 220 yds or so, versus $8.50) and it's c-r-a-z-y much better!!    ...Just had to share that, because you know how no one gets these things, sometimes...

Also in the package was the new Yarn Girls book, some sock yarns (I swear, I'll try it soon!) and some needles.  I am a happy camper.  Plus, I just placed another order for some DK for the Tiffany Mittens (possible KAL)     Can't wait to get it!

Yeah Knitpicks!  Yeah yarn orders arriving to some serious snuggle sessions!     Yep, I am absolutely goofy when my stuff arrives too.  You're absolutely right kyahbean - it's the thing to do.

Happy to hear your excitement Jill - and looking forward to seeing all those projects as they progress!

oooo - that's going to be nice in Swish!  Hope you post pics!

Here's the progress on the Irish Hiking Scarf:

Here's what it is:  www.helloyarn.com/irishhikingscarf.pdf

This one shows the color the best--it's called "Dublin", which I think my very Irish MIL will LOVE.



This is a little closer up:


For my first cable project (besides the 4" swatch of this I did in Red Heart), and I think it's coming along nicely.  I did get some weird looks when I worked on it on the bleachers at the pool during my kids' swimming lessons, but it was worth it.  I cast on there on Monday, and by Weds, another mom commented how I was really making some progress!  Yippee!

Nothing like peer pressure! 

I love that- I have a thing for cables!!

Lovely scarf.

I just found the knit picks site and I was wondering what you thought about the woool from the Andes yar. http://www.knitpicks.com/Wool+of+the+Andes_YD5420103.html. I'm thinking about making a afghan so i need some non scratchy but warm yarn.

I've been wondering about that wool, as well.  Haven't tried it yet.  I'm thinking that I might order a color card from them.  They're about $2 or so, and it has a few pieces of each color of the Wool of  the Andes, so I'd be able to feel it and see what I think.  Anyone have any?

...can't wait to hear!